_Pedro de Ledesma_"


And the archbishop of Mexico having reported to his Majesty that the
above decree of his Majesty of six hundred and eighteen had not been
shown by the viceroy, although he had had it in his possession for some
time, his Majesty despatched other new decrees to the said viceroy and
archbishop, under date of February eighteen and August twenty-five,
six hundred and twenty, in which, he again orders them to observe and
obey the said first decree to the said archbishop, in these words:
"And since your person is authorized, not only by the council of Trent,
but by the declaration of the cardinals, and by common law, to proceed
to the visit for the reformation of all the missionaries, both seculars
and regulars, you shall endeavor to relieve your conscience and mine."

Consequently, neither of us will by any means satisfy our obligations,
if we neglect to carry out the commands of his Holiness and of his
Majesty in this regard, so that we may report to his Majesty in the
first ships that his royal will has been fulfilled.

From the above, and from the jurisdiction and authority conceded
to the bishops over their sheep by the sacred canons, councils, and
briefs of the holy apostolic see, it is manifest with what want of
reason and foundation has been the assertion and declaration made
three or four times by Father Pedro de San Pablo, provincial of the
Order of St. Francis, in the royal courts about one month ago, while
reporting a suit of the fiscals of the missions of the Indians--namely,
that the provincials of the orders of these islands, and the regular
ministers of the Yndias, had more jurisdiction and power, by virtue